Sangeeta Sudhaa Saara

Ever since my childhood, I had a keen ear for music. I wasn't much of a musically talented kid! I used to sing, I still do (much to the dismay of my room mates) in the bathroom (so what's new!!). I did go to classical music classes, for about an year. Anyways, the point being that since my childhood days, I would be significantly attracted to music, especially soft lilting, melodious tunes that would stream forth from the radio, every morning at 8:15 during the "nandana" program on vividh bharathi. There were particular songs that always had my rapt attention, especially from movies "nanna neenu gellalaare", "Pallavi anupallavi", "Geetha", "janma janmada anubandha" and the likes.. all these songs had one thing in common - The music score by Ilayaraaja.

IR's music has such distinct features as compared to a lot of his contemporaries, which is what has established him in such strong foothold for nearly 4 decades. I guess he studies the mood of the song and understands its context before he composes the BG score for them. How else can one explain the stricking befittance that each score offers to the listener and viewer alike! The classical touch, the use of symphony and the repertoire of raagas and swaras that flow so mellifluously characterizes the music of IR. If one listens to the songs of "Bhoomi geetha" a wonderful movie in kannada, one can relate to the aforementioned statement.

My other favorites of his include several telugu movies - Abhinandana, Coolie No 1, Saagara sangamam, Swathi Mutyam, etc.

As gigantic his niche is, in the film music world, so also gargantuan is his stature in the private albums. Worthy of mention is the instrumental series, "India 24 hours", "Nothing But wind", etc. I can barely think of any music director so versatile and articulate in his work! An ingenious prodigy, a master of melodious, euphonious music! IR Rocks!!

Every day during the afternoon from 1:15 to 2:00 I guess, there used to be a radio program - "Aap ki farmaaish". They used to play user requests on this program. Of all the hindi songs that used to play, some of the songs used to stand out! By their music, their tone, a certain mysteriousness that was imbibed in them! It was much later when I grew up, that I realized, all these songs were by Gulzar. He was the one who wove the magic of words so well, that it tethered itself deep in the minds of the listeners and haunted them endlessly.
His first lyrics is supposed to be for the movie bandini - "mora gora ang lei ley..mohe shaam rang dai de.. chup jaaongi raat hi mein". Indeed...gulzar has travelled a long distance, as a lyricist, a writer, a director! Some of my favorites in gulzar's lyrics are:-

1. Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi:- Just the other day I was talkin' about this song with Sushma. (That is what inspired me to write about Gulzar saab). What a wonderful song! That explains the travails of a person - the joys and sorrows he is undergoing in recollection of his past, who's fruits are right now in front of him.
Aankh agar bhar aaye toh
boonde chalak jaayengi
kal kyaa pata inke liye
aankhein taras jaayengi

jaane kahan gum hua kahaan khOya
Ek aansu chupa ke rakkhaa thaa!

2. Tere bina zindagi se koyi:- From the movie Aandhi ! Gosh! What a movie! What songs!! I mean..each one of the songs have a tale of its own! I could just write blogs together on each song and the emotions in them. In this particular song, Lata and Kishore Kumar have given such a startling performance! The opening lines itself are so magnificient!
Tere bina zindagi se koyi shikwa toh nahin
tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi toh nahin... zindagi nahin.. *deep sighs*

3. Yaara sili sili birha ki:- Lata Mangeshkar couldn't have been more haunting! Gosh.. the distant sounding song.. as if beckonin' to someone unknown, a deep agony, so well rendered! And the words, just pierce like arrows deep into the fathoms of the heart. This won him the film fare award for best lyrics.. .any wonder?
pairon mein na saaya koi sar pe na saayi rE!
mere saath jaaye na meri parchaayi rE!
baahar ujaaDaa hai.. andar veeraana ...!!

4. Aanewala pal jaanewala hai:- A Classic movie! A Classic song! Need say more! Nobody could remain oblivious to this song from the wonderful movie Golmaal. As much as the movie has me in splits each time I watch it, so also does this song makes me lose myself!
Ek baar waqt se lamha gira kahin
wahan daastaan mili lamha kahin nahin
thoda sa hasaan ke thoda sa rulaake
pal ye bhi jaane wala hai Oho!!!

5. Qatra Qatra milti hai:- Another classic movie! Each song of the movie is a gem! Qatra Qatra milti hai, Mera kuchh saamaan, Khaali haath shaam aayi hai khaali haath jaayegi!!! Am speechless!!! Asha Bhonsle has done magic in these songs! A sheer brillance of words and vocals!

6. Sili hawa chu gayi:- From libaas! Everytime I listened to this song, I keep wondering at the multitude meanings it has vested in its depths.

Jitne bhi tai karte gaye, badhte gaye yeh faasle
Milon se din chhod aaye, saalon se raat leke chale

7. Dil hum hum kare:- Rudaali!! Wonderful! Glorious! Haunting! Magical! Absolutely Great!!!

Jis tan ko chua tu ne us tan koh chupaaun
Jis man ko lage raina woh kisko dikhaaon!!
O! mori chandramaa teri chandani ang jalaaye
teri unchi ataari maine pankh liye katwaaye

8. Pani Pani re:- Maachis! A movie in his direction, that won him the filmfare award for best story! Each song is lilting and dipped in his vast repertoire of words! Apart from the song that I have quote now, the other song of my liking is "chod aaye hum woh galiyan" - raft with the thoughts of a long left love!!
jahaan teri edi se dhoop uda karti thi
suna hai us chaukhat pe ab shaam raha karti hai

Well some of my other all time favos by gulzar.. are :
woh shaam kucch ajeeb thi - Khamoshi by KK
becaara dil kya kare - Khushboo by Asha Bhonsle
Musaafir hoon yaaron - Parichay by KK
Maine tere liye hi - Anand sung by Mukesh
Hum ko man ki shakti - Guddi by Vani Jayaram
Chadi re Chadi and Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi - Mausam by Mohd. Rafi, lata, Bhupinder
Thoda hai thode ki zaroorat hai - Khatta meetha sung by Lata and KK
Naam gum jaayega - Kinaara by Lata and Bhupinder (A song probably written for Lata)
sun sun sun didi - Superb singing and wonderful song! movie:- Khoobsurat and sung by Asha
Surmayi ankhiyon mein - There was a time when I wudn't sleep without listening to this song! from the wonderful Sadma! by K J Yesudas!

The list is really long... but its time to stop...

Music! Isn't it just the most marvelous thing the Lord has gifted us! The wonderful symphony of birds singing each morning, the soft whisper of the winds as they brush through the leaves.. makin' them sing in a tune of their own! The distant call of flock of birds! The babble of the brooks! Everything seems to be orchestrated with perfect harmony and synchornization by a divine Master!
Has it ever occurred to you that somehow the nature seems to respond to your moods and whims?! I know its just my imagination.. but still! When I am upbeat and joyful (which I am most of the times..), I can feel the birds upbeat and joyful too! Not just the birds, the clouds, the squirrels, the flowers, the plants, the trees, everything!!!! It's as if the nature is celebrating with me!!!!
So also, on the flip side of it, whenever I am sad, there seems a strange melancholy descending from the environs around me!!! I like to talk to the plants and trees! I feel they are all trying to tell me something. They are my best counsels! 'Coz they just listen to me! Isn't that what the best is supposed to do first of all!!! I dunno how crazy man kind wud've been if it wasn't for music! It is probably one of the best sane thing in an otherwise insane world! So as my favorite band ABBA wud say... "Thank you for the music.. the songs and singing!!!" :)